Rangers boss Steven Gerrard has left the door open for Jordan Jones and George Edmundson to rescue their Rangers careers after accepting the duo's Covid apology.
The Ibrox pair have been ruled out until after Christmas after being handed hefty seven-match bans for breaking strict government guidelines when they attended an illegal house party earlier this month.
Winger Jones, 26, and 23-year-old defender Edmundson were given two-week club suspensions and ordered to self-isolate after Gers chiefs learned of the incident, while they were also issued with fixed penalties by police officers called out to break up the early-hours get-together in a flat in Glasgow's west end.
But there was a considerable section of the Rangers support who wanted the club to go further and boot both out for good after accusing them both of placing the club's title hopes in jeopardy with their antics.
But Gerrard says he is willing to forgive and forget so long as there is no repeat after both men issued apologies to the fans.
He said: "I think the important thing here was to get the players out of the isolation period, first and foremost.
"Then it was about sitting down with the players face to face to gauge a reaction to how they feel and where they were at at that time.
"I spoke to them both individually and they were both very sad over the incident, they were remorseful, apologetic and full of regret.
"They first and foremost wanted to apologise to the supporters and their team-mates for their actions.
"Now it's about me giving them the support and managing the two to come back to being top players because they're good players, we need them here to help and support us moving forward.
"They've gone about it the right way since they've accepted their punishments. We're pleased (yesterday's disciplinary hearing) is done and out the way and we'll now move forward and try to get these players both back to where they need to be."
As thing stand Jones and Edmundson - who are ineligible for Europa League action after being omitted from Gerrard's European squad - will not be available again until the clash with St Mirren on 30 December or the St Stephen's Dayt clash with Hibernian, depending on whether Rangers reach the Betfred Cup quarter-finals.
